MFSA Chief Executive Kenneth Farrugia Champions Balanced Innovation at Singapore Digital Assets Summit

Kenneth Farrugia, Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), set out Malta’s approach to keeping innovation and regulation moving at the same pace during a fireside chat at the Digital Assets Summit 2026 in Singapore. Organised by the Digital Assets Association Singapore, the summit concluded on 6 October and brought together financial institutions, regulators and industry partners to examine the growing use of digital assets and the changing role of financial intermediaries.

Speaking with Money FM 89.3 anchor Lynlee Foo, Farrugia explained that the MFSA consults industry on an ongoing basis when developing policy guidance, ensuring all feedback is heard. That formal process is complemented by the direct sharing of experience between regulators and firms, creating an open channel through which both sides learn from developments in the market.

Farrugia also had advice for firms and supervisors alike. For firms, he described compliance as a commitment that pays off over the long term. For regulators, he highlighted the value of greater cross-border collaboration as digital asset markets increasingly operate across multiple jurisdictions.

The summit also covered tokenisation, institutional-grade security and the broader forces shaping the next decade of finance, with former Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat among the speakers. The closing panel, moderated by Otto Jacobsson of the Digital Assets Association UK and YAP Global, called for greater consistency in reporting across jurisdictions, echoing Farrugia’s emphasis on cooperation between regulators.

For Malta, Farrugia’s participation reflects the MFSA’s continued engagement with international counterparts as digital asset frameworks evolve worldwide.